EU Agricultural Subsidies

Adam Afriyie: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what recent assessment he has made of the impact of EU agricultural subsidies on people in developing countries; and if he will make a statement.

Gareth Thomas: The Department for International Development supports a range of research on the impacts of developed countries agricultural policies on developing countries. One current programme is with the United Nations Food and Agricultural Organisation (FAO) on the impacts of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) agricultural Policies on developing countries. The research outputs are available at www.fao.org/trade The Government recognise the damaging impact that trade-distorting subsidies in the EU and other OECD countries have on developing countries and we are committed to securing reductions in these subsidies, through reform of the Common Agricultural Policy and the World Trade Organisation talks.
	The most recent common agricultural policy reform package agreed in 2003–04 marks a significant shift in the EU's agricultural policy. The decoupling of subsidies from production should increase the market orientation of European farmers, leading to reductions in production and disposal of subsidised surpluses abroad.
	The Government also fully supports the commitment made as part of the World Trade Organisation (WTO) Doha Development Agenda
	"to reduce, with a view to phasing out, all forms of export subsidies, and substantial reductions in trade-distorting domestic support."
	There was progress towards this at the recent WTO ministerial in Hong Kong, where the EU agreed to phase-out its export subsidies by 2013.

HIV/AIDS

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development pursuant to the answer of 18 January 2006, Official Report, column 1329W, on HIV/AIDS (paediatric care), if he will list the countries in which the UK funds AIDS programmes.

Gareth Thomas: DFID directly and indirectly supports HIV and AIDS related activities across all its 16 priority countries in Africa. These are Democratic Republic of the Congo, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe. In well-developed states, DFID focuses on supporting national government decision-making processes and associated institutional reforms in line with the "3 ones" principles" and uses aid instruments such as general budget support. In "fragile states" where working with government has been more difficult, we have been supporting UN agencies and civil society organisations to provide a range of services.
	In Asia, DFID funds HIV and AIDS programmes in India, Bangladesh, Pakistan, Nepal, Vietnam, Cambodia and China. Most are not stand-alone DFID programmes, but are jointly funded. Burma is funded through our support to the UN.
	In Latin America and the Caribbean, regional programmes cover a wide range of countries. In Latin America, the Brazil Sexually Transmitted Diseases/AIDS Programme provides technical support across the region. Focus countries are Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru. In the Caribbean, the Regional Programme covers a wide range of island states, with a focus on six countries in the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Grenada, Dominica, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts & Nevis). A new project supporting the private sector response to HIV and AIDS is under way in Jamaica and Barbados. A programme tackling AIDS-related stigma and discrimination covers all countries in the Caribbean.
	In the Overseas Territories, support is provided to the Caribbean Epidemiology Centre to provide technical support and services for all of the Caribbean Overseas Territories (Montserrat, Turks and Caicos, British Virgin Islands, Bermuda, Cayman Islands and Anguilla).
	In Europe and Central Asia, DFID supports HIV and AIDS programmes in Central Asia (Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan), through a programme working jointly with the World Bank. Flexible technical assistance programmes are also funded in Central Asia, Russia, Ukraine and Serbia and Montenegro, working with the Joint United Nation Programme for HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS).

Millennium Development Goals

Andrew Stunell: To ask the Secretary of State for International Development what arrangements have been made by the UK to deliver the commitment made at the Millennium Review Summit of September 2005 to support comprehensive national strategies to achieve the millennium development goals by providing the necessary increases in aid of sufficient quality and timeliness.

Hilary Benn: The UK has argued strongly for increased levels of aid and debt relief to support partner countries in implementing strategies to achieve the Millennium Development Goals. Commitments made by European and G8 governments last year will increase global aid from $79 billion in 2004 to $129 billion in 2010. The UK wants to increase the impact of this by creating the International Finance Facility. Governments also made commitments on improving the quality of aid, by providing more direct support to partner governments'.
	The UK has published expenditure plans for 2005–06 to 2007–08, and we intend to meet by 2013, the UN target of providing 0.7 per cent. of gross national income (GNI) as development assistance.
	The United Kingdom's proposals for supporting countries to accelerate progress towards the Millennium Development Goals are set out in the paper "From Commitment to Action" prepared by the Department for International Development (DFID) and Her Majesty's Treasury. I have arranged for copies of this document to be placed in the Libraries of the House.

Departmental Responsibilities

David Amess: To ask the Solicitor General if he will make a statement on the responsibilities of each directorate in the (a) Treasury's Solicitor's Department, (b) Serious Fraud Office and (c) Crown Prosecution Service.

Mike O'Brien: The responsibilities of the directorates in each of the three Departments are shown as follows:
	(a) Treasury Solicitor's Department
	Litigation group: Provides civil litigation services to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.
	Employment and Commercial Practices Group: provides employment litigation ,and/or advisory services and gives advice on general contractual issues to Government Departments and other publicly funded bodies.
	The Department-specific Advisory Divisions, several co-located with client Departments, provide legal support for all aspects of the client Department's work.
	The European Division provides and co-ordinates legal services in support of the Government's policies in relation to the European Union, including conducting all litigation on behalf of the U.K. in the European Court of Justice.
	The Bona Vacantia Division raises money from the estates of those who die intestate, and from the assets of devolved companies, on behalf of the Crown.
	The Government Legal Service Secretariat supports the Treasury Solicitor (Head of the GLS) and GLS teams on a range of management and professional issues affecting more than one Department.
	The Directorate of Corporate Strategy is responsible for planning and implementing strategic, business and policy development throughout the Agency.
	The Treasury Solicitor's Department's Estimate also covers funding for HMCPS, and for the Attorney General's Office, which provides legal and policy advice and support to the Law Officers,
	(b) Serious Fraud Office
	The SFO has five investigation and prosecution divisions, each containing a number of multi-disciplinary case teams comprising lawyers, financial investigators and support staff. These divisions are supported by:
	Accountancy Support and Forensic Computing—the former allocating support from a central resource; the latter responsible for the seizure, processing and analysis of all electronic-based evidence.
	Asset Recovery Unit, which provides assistance on and handles applications for restraint and confiscation orders.
	Finance and Establishment Division.
	Mutual Legal Assistance Unit, which assists overseas authorities where there is evidence in England, Wales or N. Ireland relating to a suspected fraud overseas.
	(c) Crown Prosecution Service
	Policy Directorate: developing prosecution policy and providing practical guidance to CPS staff, as well as representing the interests of the CPS within the CJS.
	Business Development Directorate: supporting and monitoring the 42 CPS areas in delivering Criminal Justice targets, and in the coordination and implementation of change.
	Finance Directorate: developing and managing the planning and financial management framework, dealing with spending reviews etc.
	Human Resources Directorate: supporting the CPS on all issues relating to people employed within the Service.
	Business Information Systems Directorate: responsible for all aspects of the development and delivery of the CPS' Information and Communications Strategy.
	Organised Crime Division: set up to provide a dedicated service to SOCA.
	Special Crime Division: prosecutes/assists the prosecution of the most sensitive, specialised and novel cases.
	Counter Terrorism Division: advises on, and prosecutes, cases of terrorism, incitement to racial hatred, war crimes, official secrets and other offences within the definition of "state crime".
	Equality and Diversity Unit: Develops and supports the CPS equality and diversity policy.

Housing

Sadiq Khan: To ask the Deputy Prime Minister what his most recent estimate is of the number of children living in overcrowded housing conditions in (a) London and (b) England.

Yvette Cooper: There are two measures of overcrowding—the statutory definition and the bedroom standard.
	Based on the bedroom standard, the number of children living in overcrowded households over the three-year period 2002–03, 2003–04 and 2004–05 was (a) 275,000 in London and (b) 880,000 in England. The total number of overcrowded households in England on this basis is estimated to be around 500,000.
	Information on compliance with the statutory standard is not collected centrally. Using data from the "Survey of English Housing" for the period 1997–98 to 1999–2000 and from the 1996 "English House Condition Survey" it was estimated that there were 25,000 households in England that were so overcrowded that the statutory standard was breached. However, reliable estimates for London on this basis are not available—neither are figures for the number of children that live in statutory overcrowded households.

Adult Education

Brian Jenkins: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what opportunities are made available by her Department in Tamworth constituency (a) to retrain, (b) to reskill and (c) to educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.

Phil Hope: This is a matter for the Learning and Skills Council. Mark Haysom, the Council's Chief Executive, will write my hon. Friend with this information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the Library.
	The Government's Skills Strategy, "21st Century Skills: Realising Our Potential" (July 2003) and "Skills: Getting on in business, getting on at work" (March 2005), set out our plans for increasing opportunities for adults to develop their skills for paid employment.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 27 January 2006
	I write in response to your recent Parliamentary question to the Secretary of State for Education and Skills, where you ask what opportunities are made available by her department in Tamworth constituency to (a) retrain (b) reskill and (c) educate local adult residents to improve their chances of taking up paid employment.
	Tamworth and Lichfield College is the principal further education (FE) college serving learners in the Tamworth district. Residents also have the opportunity to study in a number of other FE colleges within accessible travelling distance.
	In 2004–05, some 9,500 adults enrolled on programmes of study at Tamworth and Lichfield College across a wide range of subject areas. Particularly large numbers (5,000 enrolments) were to programmes in Information and Communication Technology (ICT). These qualifications are adaptable to many employment sectors, and our regional and local market intelligence shows that, increasingly, employment opportunities will be in higher skilled and more technical jobs where ICT competencies will be an important part of the overall skills profile sought by employers,
	In terms of the total employment demand, the health sector is forecast to be Staffordshire's second biggest sector over the next 10 years. Over 1,800 adults enrolled to programmes in Health, Public Services and Care at Tamworth and Lichfield College in 2004–05. College provision, therefore, is supporting residents to take advantage of new and emerging employment opportunities.
	In addition to provision to support vocational training and upskilling, Staffordshire local education authority receives funding from LSC for the provision of non-accredited adult and community learning activities across the eight district councils in Staffordshire. The aim of the provision is to engage learners in learning programmes and activities to develop skills for life and personal development. Tamworth and Lichfield College delivers this provision on its Tamworth campus and an additional 17 community venues in the district. In 2003–04 the college enrolled 2,284 learners on 160 adult community programmes.
	Learndirect offer a range of flexible learning opportunities though e-learning. The study can take place at the learndirect centres, of which there are 5 in the Tamworth area, or anywhere a learner can access a computer with a good internet connection. Courses include literacy and numeracy, and many are free.
	Trust this is helpful.

Disabled People (Skills Levels)

Iain Wright: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she is taking to increase the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool; and if she will make a statement.

Phil Hope: More people than ever before with self-declared learning difficulties and/or disabilities are now engaged in LSC-funded education and training with 579,000 learners across the post-16 sector in 2003–04 at a total cost of around £1.3 billion. We want to work closely with the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to continue to break down the barriers that people with disabilities face in accessing quality training. The Learning and Skills Act 2000 places a statutory duty on the LSC to promote equality of opportunity between persons of different racial groups, men and women, and between disabled and non-disabled. To support that work, the LSC has introduced equality and diversity impact measures as a planning tool to promote greater equality of opportunity in both fair access to and outcomes from publicly-funded training.
	Earlier this year, in our White Paper "Skills Getting on in business, getting on at work" we outlined how the LSC is providing capital funding to support colleges and training providers in making the necessary changes to their accommodation, in order to improve access for disabled learners.
	However, responsibility for the planning and funding of skills training in Hartlepool, including skills for people with disabilities, is the responsibility of the LSC. Mark Haysom, the council's chief executive, has written to my hon. Friend with further information and a copy of his letter has been placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 30 January 2006
	I am writing to you to follow up the Secretary of State's answer to your recent Parliamentary Question regarding increasing the skills levels of disabled people in Hartlepool.
	I have set out below a summary of current activity with learners in the town:
	The main providers of post-16 learning in Hartlepool are Hartlepool College of Further Education and Hartlepool Sixth Form College. Both have been supported recently with funding in relation to improving access for learners with disabilities. All providers of Apprenticeships, Work Based Learning and Entry to Employment in Hartlepool have had an Access Audit to ensure that their facilities and premises are accessible to people with disabilities.
	In excess of 1,900 people taking part in learning in Hartlepool are supported with Additional Learning Support Funding. This funding provides specific individual support in respect of learning difficulties and/or disabilities.
	18 learners from Hartlepool with a learning difficulty/and or disability have achieved a Level 1 or Level 2 qualification through the Employer Training Pilot. This is 7% of those taking part.
	73 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on Apprenticeship programmes and improving their skills and employment opportunities at levels 2 and 3. 42 young people from Hartlepool who consider themselves to have a learning difficulty and/or disability are currently on entry to employment programmes and are improving their skills and employment opportunities leading to level 2 qualifications.
	Hartlepool College of Further Education is working with Catcote Special School in Hartlepool to increase provision for learners aged 19+ with learning difficulties and/or disabilities. This project is increasing personal, social and skills for working life for 14 adults.
	Hartlepool Sixth Form College is running a Pathways project1 which supports 26 learners with multiple learning difficulties aged 26 to 63. Learners follow the Certificate in Personal, Social and Health Education.
	We have recently approved funding for the Shaw Trust to deliver support to unemployed 19–24 year olds with learning difficulties and/or disabilities that I have previously had specialist support in a local provider, or have returned from a residential college. The project will support them in community and work based settings. Participants will benefit from improved social skills to encourage independent living and progression, making aspirations and employment goals attainable. 50 learners will be supported across the Tees Valley.
	In addition to the examples given above, people with disabilities have full access to the extensive range of skills training available in the colleges and learning organisations within Hartlepool.
	Budgets for investment in services for learners with learning needs and disabilities for 2006–07 will shortly be allocated to regions and local LSC's enabling them to plan support for next year. This will be in the context of our plans for significant budget increases for these learners over the next few years. We have increased the overall budget for learners with learning needs and disabilities from £138 million to £157 million for 2006–2007 and this will increase again to £181 million in 2007–2008, rises of 14% and 15% year on year from 2005. These rises are significantly greater than the overall increase in our budget over the same period, which increases by 3% and 5%.
	We are making this additional investment in response to the national review of support for learners with disabilities carried out for us by Peter Little. While the review is still out for consultation and we will need to agree nationally how the LSC's expenditure on learning is matched by what other agencies pay for by way of social and domestic support, we acknowledge that our own contribution must rise. This is because the overall number of learners with disabilities is rising as the effect of medical advances continues.
	At a time when numbers of young people are falling and 80% of the workforce of 2010 is already in the labour market we regard it as essential that the aspirations and abilities of all learners are supported and developed.
	I hope this information helps to support the answer to your parliamentary question.

Extended Schools

John Bercow: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what assessment she has made of the requirement for extended schools referred to on page 10 of the White Paper, "Higher Standards, Better Schools for All".

Beverley Hughes: By 2010 we expect all schools to offer access to a core offer of extended services, with half of all primaries and a third of all secondaries doing so by 2008. The core offer includes 8 am-6 pm wraparound child care; a varied menu of study support activities such as sport and arts clubs; swift and easy referral to specialist health and social care services such as speech therapy; parenting support; and wider community use of school facilities. How this develops in each community will vary depending on the needs of that community. Some will have greater need for more child care, others will be able to rely on working with existing providers. A survey of 4,000 schools has shown that many are already delivering parts of this offer, with the vast majority already providing some activities or care before or after school. There has been enthusiasm from local authorities and schools to engage with the extended schools support programme, with over 5,000 schools joining this year.

Foundation Stage Profile

Nick Gibb: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills how many statements are included in the Foundation Stage Profile.

Beverley Hughes: The QCA Foundation Stage Profile scales booklet covers 13 areas of development related to the early learning goals. For each area, the booklet offers a series of statements, numbered 1 to 9, describing aspects of development within that area (117 statements in all). For each individual child, teachers decide which of the nine statements in each area best describe the child's stage of development. Schools report to the local authority, as the child's "score", 13 numbers ranging from 1 to 9.

Training Schemes

Michael Gove: To ask the Secretary of State for Education and Skills what steps she has taken to aid the provision of training schemes for Surrey Heath residents over 50 years old.

Phil Hope: We are committed to safeguarding a wide range of adult learning opportunities in every area, including provision for learners over 50, and we will ensure that adult learning provision in Surrey Heath is provided through the funding from the Learning and Skills Council (LSC) to further education colleges, local authorities and other providers. As this is an operational matter, Mark Haysom, the LSC's Chief Executive has written to the hon. Member with further information and a copy of his reply will be placed in the House Library.
	Letter from Mark Haysom, dated 23 January 2006
	I refer to the written reply by Phil Hope to your Parliamentary Question. The Minister has asked that I write to you with further information.
	Adult and Community Learning (now called Personal and Community Development Learning) is an important source of provision for older people. We are safeguarding funding for this provision for future years.
	For other forms of provision, the LSC has agreed clear funding priorities with the Government as public resources are necessarily finite. Our highest priorities are to support increased participation and achievement of 16–18 year olds and to support adults without skills for life and full level 2 qualifications which are important for basic levels of employability. Many older people come within these latter priority categories and around a quarter of enrolments in LSC funded provision in Surrey are by people over the age of 50.
	Surrey County Council, our Adult and Community Learning provider in the county, has developed provision for older people in two communities with high levels of multiple deprivation, one of which is in Surrey Heath. Building on earlier work by the Pre-Retirement Association, the purpose of these was to develop a transferable and innovative curriculum of recreational learning to encourage older people to regard learning and skills acquisition as a positive and natural accompaniment to growing older. Amongst other things, this led to the formation of an 'older and bolder club1 for health activities and recreation. The University of the Third Age has a presence in Surrey Heath to encourage lifelong learning for older people not in employment and relevant courses are also delivered by the WEA (with funding from the LSC.)
	To help shape future provision, the Surrey Lifelong Learning Partnership has run focus groups on our behalf, involving older learners, to identify provision of particular interest. Analysis of needs against provision on a geographic basis means that we can now identify where there is relatively high and low participation in learning for over 50s to provide a basis for review of future provision.
	Our future provision in Surrey will also be influenced by our South East Region's annual statement of planning priorities in which we have a commitment to "pilot curriculum opportunities for older workers to change their occupations or extend their careers". To this end, we are developing a project, with European funding support, to identify different ways of delivering learning to older people. This will include targeted information, advice and guidance and the development of courses specifically to meet the needs of older people seeking to extend their careers.
	Looking further forward, demographic changes—with fewer young people entering the labour market and an expectation of longer working life—mean that, nationally, we will need to provide a broader programme of support for older people to keep their skills up to date. We will be working with the Department for Education and Skills to define and plan the nature of this broader support.
	I hope this further information is helpful.

Casualties (Iraq/Afghanistan)

Liam Fox: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether his Department is considering making available a breakdown of casualty figures for the deployments in (a) Iraq and (b) Afghanistan.

John Reid: Yes. The MOD intends to publish casualty figures for Iraq on the MOD website in the next few weeks, identifying the number of personnel categorised as "Seriously Injured" and "Very Seriously Injured". The figures will be updated regularly. I will write to inform the right hon. Member prior to the first publication.
	The MOD will also release in the same way these categories of information for any UK casualties that occur from 1 January 2006 onwards as a result of operations in Afghanistan. Information for previous years is not held centrally and will take some time to collate. I will write to the right hon. Member when the figures are available and place a copy of my letter in the Library of the House.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what his Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

Don Touhig: The decision to hold events to mark religious festivals is one for commanding officers and civilian line managers and records of such events are not held centrally.
	Religious belief is regarded as a private matter in the Ministry of Defence and armed forces. It is the Department's policy to allow personnel to meet their religious observances provided this does not interfere with operational effectiveness, health and safety requirements or business needs. Armed forces and Ministry of Defence civil service personnel may request leave to celebrate religious festivals where these fall outside national public holidays. Such requests are considered objectively and met wherever practical. Areas for worship or contemplation are made available in Ministry of Defence and armed forces establishments wherever practicable.
	A "Guide on Religion and Belief in the Ministry of Defence and Armed Forces" was published last year to raise awareness of faith and cultural issues.

Qinetiq

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence what safeguards he has put in place to ensure that intellectual property developed by Qinetiq remains in the UK following that company's flotation.

John Reid: In common with other companies which carry out MOD-funded research, ownership of intellectual property generated as a result of MOD contracts remains with Qinetiq, although MOD has free rights to such information for its own use, or for use by its contractors for defence and security purposes. The MOD also has rights to disclose such information to other governments for international co-operation purposes.
	Should Qinetiq wish to use UK government-funded intellectual property in programmes with overseas governments or contractors, arrangements exist, established in July 2001, which allow MOD to prevent transactions that it judges would cause an unmanageable conflict of interest or otherwise be contrary to the defence or security interests of the UK. These arrangements will remain in place after the initial public offering in Qinetiq. Qinetiq is also subject to the same security and export controls as any other UK company.

Qinetiq

Gerald Howarth: To ask the Secretary of State for Defence whether he plans to ease the restrictions on Qinetiq's involvement in defence manufacturing.

John Reid: When Qinetiq became a company in July 2001, the Ministry of Defence (MOD) put in place a range of measures to ensure that the company did not undertake activities that could cause an unmanageable conflict of interest affecting its ability to carry out work for MOD customers.
	In addition, the MOD had a separate right to require Qinetiq to seek our specific approval if it wished to carry out certain defence manufacturing activities which might also cause a conflict of interest. In reviewing the operation of the compliance regime, the Department has concluded that the existence of this additional approvals process on top of the wider conflict of interest protections has caused some confusion, and that there is scope for simplifying the regime. Consequently, the MOD has agreed with the company that the separate defence manufacturing approvals process will be removed from 1 April 2008, by which date the MOD will be in a position to open its research programme to full competition, potentially providing greater opportunities for the rest of industry to bid for work and increasing the options available to MOD customers. This change will not affect the level of protection available to customers who will exercise their rights through the wider provisions contained elsewhere in the compliance regime.

Biodiversity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs how the Government plan to assess whether they have met the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010.

Jim Knight: The Standing Committee of the UK Biodiversity Partnership has agreed to use a set of 18 headline indicators to assess whether the target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010 has been met. These are based on the framework being used within the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity. Some of the indicators are already published; others require further development. The full set of indicators is as follows:
	
		
			 Focal areas Indicators 
		
		
			 Status and trends of the components of biological diversity 1. Trends in populations of wild birds: (a) farmland birds; (b) woodland birds; (c) coastal and sea birds 
			  2. Plant diversity in the wider countryside 
			  3. Status of BAP Priority Species 
			  4. Status of BAP Priority Habitats 
			  5. "Trends in genetic diversity of cultivated plants" 
			  6 (a) Extent of SACs, SPAs and SSSI/ASSIs; (b) Proportion of features of SACs and SPAs in favourable condition 
			   
			 Sustainable use 7. Proportion of woodland area under certified management 
			  8. Area of land under agri-environment scheme agreement 
			  9. Proportion of commercially exploited fish stocks around the UK harvested sustainably 
			   
			 Threats to biodiversity 10. Nitrogen deposition 
			  11. Number and costs of invasive alien species 
			  12. Impact of climate change on biodiversity 
			   
			 Ecosystem integrity and ecosystem goods and services 13. Marine trophic index 
			  14. Connectivity/fragmentation of ecosystems 
			  15. Water quality in aquatic ecosystems 
			   
			 Status of access and benefits sharing 16. Percentage of European patent applications for inventions based on genetic resources and/or traditional knowledge that disclose the source of these resources and knowledge 
			   
			 Status of resource transfers and use 17. Funding to biodiversity: 
			  in economic and development cooperation (response) 
			  in EU research, monitoring and management 
			   
			 Public opinion 18. Public awareness and participation

Biodiversity

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs what measures the Government (a) have introduced and (b) are planning to introduce to halt biodiversity loss by 2010.

Jim Knight: Under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan (UK BAP) there are costed and targeted national action plans for 436 of our most threatened habitats and species in the UK. These are supported by approximately 150 local biodiversity action plans, often at county level. The most recently completed review of progress was conducted in 2002 and the latest published information on progress was issued in 2003: "UK Biodiversity Action Plan—tracking progress". A further report on progress to 2005 will be published this year.
	The England Biodiversity Strategy, "Working with the grain of nature" was published in 2002. This brings together England's key contributions towards halting the loss of biodiversity by 2010. The strategy sets out a programme of activity to integrate biodiversity into policy making and practice. The third annual stock-take of progress under the strategy was published on 29 December 2005. This highlights coverage of more than 1 million hectares of land by Environmental Stewardship agreements, a new Planning Policy Statement on Biodiversity and Geological Conservation, a new policy on ancient and native woodland, and a substantial increase in investment in water and wetland management for wildlife.
	Under the Natural Environment and Rural Communities Bill, we propose to extend a duty to all public authorities in England and Wales to have regard to the conservation of biodiversity in the exercise of their functions. And we are also committed to publishing a Marine Bill to provide a new framework for marine conservation.
	We will publish new priorities, targets and plans for meeting our target of halting biodiversity loss by 2010, following reviews being undertaken under the UK Biodiversity Action Plan.
	The UK commitment towards international efforts to reduce the rate of loss of biodiversity by 2010 is contained in the World Summit on Sustainable Development Delivery Plan for international biodiversity (http://www.sustainable-development.gov.uk/delivery/global-local/international/wssd/delivery-plans.htm). The plans set out the intermediate steps needed to meet the UK's long term aims, and reports on progress to date.
	The UK also continues to fund and administer the Darwin Initiative. This has played a major role in conserving endangered species and habitats throughout the world. Since its launch in 1992, we have committed more than £45 million to more than 400 projects in more than 100 countries.

Countryside and Rights of Way Act

Chris Ruane: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs if she will consider extending the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 legislation to riverside areas.

Jim Knight: The Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000 already includes rights of access on foot for open-air recreation for some riverside areas, which have been mapped as open country and registered common land. We have no plans to extent this at present.

Tail Docking

Adam Holloway: To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs whether all tail docking of animals is prohibited.

Ben Bradshaw: No. the docking of dogs' tails is allowed but only if performed by a vet. The routine tail docking of piglets is prohibited, but they can be docked on the advice of a vet where tail biting is likely to occur. The tail docking of cattle is prohibited except in an emergency by a vet. And the Docking and Nicking of Horses Act 1949 prevents the docking of a horse's tail and restricts the import of a horse with a docked tail.
	The Animal Welfare Bill will prohibit the mutilation of animals for non-medical reasons, with exemptions set out in secondary legislation.

Côte d'Ivoire

Mark Simmonds: To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs if he will make a statement on the security situation in Côte d'Ivoire.

Ian Pearson: I refer the hon. Member to the reply I gave my hon. Friend, the Member for Stroud (Mr. Drew) on 26 January 2006, Official Report, columns 2240–41W.

Colin Worton

David Simpson: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland pursuant to the answer of 9 January 2006, Official Report, column 317W, on Colin Worton, by what criteria claims for (a) compensation and (b) an ex gratia payment are assessed.

David Hanson: There are two schemes for awarding compensation for miscarriages of justice. These are the statutory scheme under Section 133 of the Criminal Justice Act 1988 and the ex-gratia arrangements which were set out in a statement to the House of Commons on 29 November 1985, Official Report, columns 691–692, by the then Home Secretary and which have been adopted by successive Secretaries of State for Northern Ireland since then.
	Section 133 provides that the Secretary of State shall pay compensation to a person who has been convicted of and punished for a criminal offence, where the conviction is subsequently reversed or a pardon is granted on the ground that a new or newly discovered fact shows beyond reasonable doubt that there has been a miscarriage of justice. Compensation shall not be paid where the non-disclosure of the unknown fact was wholly or partially attributable to the person convicted.
	A reversal in this context refers to a conviction which has been quashed either on an out-of-time appeal, or on a reference under the Criminal Appeal Act 1995, section 7 of the Terrorism Act 2000 or section 12 of the Prevention of Terrorism Act 2005.
	Under the ex gratia scheme compensation may exceptionally be granted where a person has spent time in custody following a wrongful conviction or charge, where there has been serious default on the part of the police or some other public authority, or where facts emerge, either at trial or on appeal within time, that completely exonerate the accused.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what assessment he has made of the potential impact on councils' draft rates estimates of the changes in the Waste Management Grant Scheme.

Angela Smith: The reduction of £3 million in the Waste Management Grant Scheme will impact on all 26 councils to varying degrees. Only individual councils can define the precise effect this has on the district rate.
	However, the Department of the Environment has conducted a provisional assessment of the impact based on district councils' spending profiles. It indicates that councils which invest in capital projects will be unaffected, whereas others who utilised the scheme for revenue spend may have to raise their rates by between 1 and 2.5p.
	Whatever money councils choose to raise, it will be in addition to the capital monies from the Waste Management Grant Scheme.

Waste Management Grant Scheme

Mark Durkan: To ask the Secretary of State for Northern Ireland what measures are available to him to ensure that local councils in Northern Ireland are able to meet their waste management requirements.

Angela Smith: I fully recognize the difficulties faced by local councils in meeting their waste management requirements, particularly those contained in the EU Landfill Directive. My Department is committed to working in partnership with councils to assist them with these responsibilities and to this end, we have set up a number of important working groups comprising representatives from central and local government.
	The Northern Ireland Landfill Allowances Scheme (NILAS) Implementation Steering Group was established in June 2005 with the aim of ensuring that Northern Ireland maximises the possibility of achieving the Landfill Directive targets for the reduction of biodegradable municipal waste sent to landfill.
	One of the key tasks facing local councils is the provision of a network of new infrastructure to ensure that landfill diversion targets are met. In April 2005, the Department established a Waste Infrastructure Task Force to help councils with the planning and procurement of new waste management facilities.
	The main work of the task force involves identifying appropriate structural arrangements for the procurement of waste infrastructure; the likely location, type and cost of the facilities; and a suitable procurement and funding package.
	From a financial point of view, the Department of the Environment's Environment and Heritage Service continues to support councils through grants for the treatment and safe disposal of fridges and end of life vehicles.

EU Media Plus

Michael Penning: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport which UK (a) programmes and (b) films have received funding from the EU Media Plus programme; and if she will make a statement.

James Purnell: The Government support the Media Plus programme and recognises the benefits it brings to help create a sustainable and successful film industry in the UK.
	Since 2001, the UK film industry has benefited from over €28 million, approximately £19.5 million, through the Media Plus programme, and a further €500,000 (£341,000) through the related i2i initiative.
	Specific projects to have received such funding include films such as East is East and Christmas Carol—The Movie. Slate funding received has led to the development of films such as Sylvia, A Cock and Bull Story and Girl with a Pearl Earring.
	In addition, the New Talent scheme has been particularly beneficial for the UK. The British scriptwriter, Duane Hopkins, received the 2004 MEDIA New Talent award in 2004 for his feature-length screenplay Better Things.
	TV programmes that have also benefited from the funding scheme include Why We Fight and the forthcoming In Search of Mozart.
	I am arranging for the complete list of UK programmes and films that have received financial assistance from the EU Media Plus programme to be placed in the Libraries of both Houses.

Jewish Festivals

David Davies: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport what her Department did to (a) celebrate Hanukkah and (b) mark Yom Kippur in 2005.

David Lammy: DCMS is a diverse organisation that values its staff as individuals. Although the Department doesn't specifically celebrate Hanukkah and Yom Kippur its diversity training promotes the need for staff to be sensitive to colleagues observing or already celebrating religious or cultural events. We also provide a religious and cultural guide and an interfaith calendar which is available to all staff on our intranet site.

Television Broadcasts (Violence)

Peter Law: To ask the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport whether her Department plans, under the Government's Respect Agenda, to monitor and evaluate the effect on antisocial behaviour of the broadcasting of violent acts during peak-time television programming.

James Purnell: No. Responsibility for what is broadcast on television and radio rests with the broadcasters and the organisations which regulate broadcasting—the Office of Communications (Ofcom) the governors of the BBC, and the Welsh Fourth Channel Authority.
	Under section 2.4 of Ofcom's Broadcasting Code which applies to all broadcasters programmes must not include material which, taking into account the context, condones or glamorises violent, dangerous or seriously antisocial behaviour and is likely to encourage others to copy such behaviour. This has been in place since July 2005. Ofcom periodically commissions research which informs the development and interpretation of its code.

Departmental Expenditure

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many widescreen televisions have been purchased by his Department for use in London Headquarters in each of the last five years; and what the cost was in each year.

Alan Johnson: The Department is unable to separately identify widescreen televisions purchased from expenditure on other electrical audio-visual equipment such as flatscreen displays or traditional cathode ray tube TVs.

Departmental Sickness Absence

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry how many days sick leave on average staff in his Department have taken in each of the last five years; and what percentage of total working days this represented in each year.

Alan Johnson: The following sets out average sick absence in the DTI HQ (including Small Business Service) in each of the last five years; and percentage of total working days this represented in each year. All data includes weekends and public and privilege holidays; and therefore based on working year of 335 days.
	
		
			  Headcount Full-time equivalent 
			  Average days Percentage of total working days Average days Percentage of total working days 
		
		
			 2005 5.7 1.72 5.9 1.77 
			 2004 8.0 2.39 8.2 2.46 
			 2003 7.0 2.09 7.2 2.16 
			 2002 7.0 2.08 7.2 2.13 
			 2001 6.7 2.01 6.9 2.07

Concessionary Travel

John Cummings: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport if he will list the local authorities in the County of Durham which have received funding to introduce the concessionary travel scheme; and how much was paid to each.

Karen Buck: All the districts in the County of Durham receive funding for concessionary fares through the formula grant system. The extra funding is not ringfenced; therefore it is not possible to identify the current funding for concessionary fares for individual local authorities. The Office of the Deputy Prime Minister consulted on the formula to be used for funding the extension to free off-peak local bus travel for pensioners and disabled people from 1 April. The funding will continue to not be specifically allocated.

Highways Agency

Chris Grayling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport what the administration costs are of the Highways Agency to date in the financial year 2005–06.

Stephen Ladyman: The Highways Agency's administration costs to 31 December 2005 in the financial year 2005–06 are £70,166,841. This figure includes salary costs.

London Commuter Services

Andrew Pelling: To ask the Secretary of State for Transport which commuting service into London had the highest passengers in excess of capacity level in the last year for which figures are available.

Derek Twigg: In 2004, which is the last year for which data is available, the London commuting services with the highest passenger in excess of capacity were:
	
		
			 Time From To Train operator Arrive Train capacity Passengers PIXC 
		
		
			 07:40 Ashford London Victoria South Eastern Trains 09:28 266 466 200 
			 18:09 London Bridge Beckenham Junction Southern 18:44 205 286 81 
			 17:50 London Bridge Rochester South Eastern Trains 18:51 420 586 166 
		
	
	Since this data was collected, both Southern and South Eastern Trains have introduced new rolling stock on these services which provides greater passenger capacity.

Channings Wood Prison

Anthony Steen: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many foreign national prisoners there are at HMP Channings Wood; how many of these are awaiting deportation; how long those awaiting deportation have been waiting; and to which country they are to be deported.

Fiona Mactaggart: As at 26 January there were 30 foreign national prisoners at Channings Wood prison. One prisoner is awaiting deportation to Jamaica, who would otherwise have expected to be released from prison custody on 24 December 2005. The prisoner in question is awaiting relevant travel documents.

Crime Statistics

David Amess: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many (a) males and (b) females were (i) prosecuted for and (ii) convicted of (A) murder and (B) manslaughter in England and Wales in 2004.

Fiona Mactaggart: The available information from the court proceedings database held by the Office for Criminal Justice Reform on the number of males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for murder and manslaughter is contained in the table.
	Court statistics for 2005 will be available in the autumn 2006.
	
		Males and females proceeded against at magistrates courts and found guilty at all courts for offences of murder and manslaughter(9), England and Wales 2004
		
			 Number 
			  Murder Manslaughter(10), (11)  
			  Proceeded against Found guilty Proceeded against Found guilty 
		
		
			  
			 Males 685 343 427 544 
			 Females 74 18 41 46 
		
	
	(9) These data are on the principal offence basis.
	(10) Includes: manslaughter, child destruction, infanticide, causing death by dangerous driving, diminished responsibility and causing death by careless driving when under the influence of drink or drugs.
	(11) Found guilty figures may include those prosecutions for murder that were reduced to manslaughter.

Criminal Records Bureau

Norman Lamb: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many applications to the Criminal Records Bureau are outstanding; and how many applications were outstanding in (a) September 2005, (b) June 2005 and (c) January 2005.

Andy Burnham: Information is not available to provide an answer in the specific format requested. However, during the 12 month period up to 31 December 2005, the average time for completion of all Enhanced Disclosures is 31.5 days, excluding any time an application has to be returned to a customer.
	On this basis, the average for the periods specified in his question are:
	In January 2005 it was 28.4 working days;
	In June 2005 it was 26.4 working days;
	In September 2005 it was 31.1 working days;
	As at 31 December 2005, the average time taken was 32.9 working days.
	These calculations include any time an application has to be returned to a customer and is not an accurate indication of the Bureau's performance, because Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) has no means of controlling when such information may be provided by the customer.

Departmental Savings

Francis Maude: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what administrative savings have been made by his Department in each of the last eight years.

Charles Clarke: Value for money (VFM) improvements in administration contributes to the delivery of the Department's wider VFM targets. The 2004 Spending Review reclassified frontline operational costs for areas such as prison establishments and immigration case-working to Programme expenditure. This will enable a more effective focus in bearing down on headquarters and back-office overheads without damaging front-line delivery.
	As set out in the Home Office Targets Autumn Performance Report 2005 (Cm 6707), during 2004–05 the Home Office and the Police Service achieved overall VFM gains worth £845 million pa of which £554 million was cashable. Of these, Headquarters reform contributed £32 million, all of which was cashable, an important contributor being the a reduction in Home Office headquarters headcount.

Identity Cards

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what recent estimate he has made of the cost to (a) each Department and (b) each citizen of the introduction of the national identity card scheme.

Andy Burnham: The Home Office has developed its current best estimate of the cost of using the ID cards scheme to support the services which it oversees and these costs have been incorporated into the business case.
	In deriving these estimates account has to be taken of current and planned levels of investment in similar or related technologies and the types of use required to support the particular services which the Home Office oversees. Not all services will require a high degree of integration between the ID cards scheme and other IT systems. For many, integration costs will be absorbed in the usual cycle of system upgrades and technology refresh. Therefore, these costs are not in our estimates and would be a matter for each department to consider based on their business case for using the scheme.
	We cannot release the detailed estimated costs for integrating IT systems within the Home Office and other Government Departments at this stage as these elements may be acquired from the market. The estimates are therefore commercially sensitive and to release them may prejudice the procurement process and the Department's ability to obtain value for money from potential suppliers.
	The current best estimates for the cost to the citizen were outlined in the regulatory impact assessment published on 25 May 2005. The current best estimate for the cost of a passport and ID card package is 93. In October 2005, my right hon. Friend the Home Secretary announced that a stand alone ID card for British citizens would cost £30.

Identity Cards

Jim Cunningham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what representations his Department has received from (a) Christian, (b) Hindu, (c) Muslim and (d) Sikh communities in the West Midlands region on the proposed identity cards scheme.

Andy Burnham: The identity cards programme team has received no representations from individuals or communities identifying themselves as either Christian, Hindu, Muslim or Sikh and living in the West Midlands region.
	However, the special issues research conducted in October and November 2004, comprised a number of focus groups which included a group of Hindu females and a group of Sikh males from Birmingham. This issues raised from these particular groups was the concern that Sikh men would not have to remove their turbans in order to be enrolled on the ID card scheme. The group of Sikh men were also concerned that they might have to carry their ID card with them at all times. Both the Hindu female and Sikh male groups expressed views that the ID card was a positive idea as it would allow you to prove your identity and would assist if you had a car accident for example. The Sikh male group also expressed a preference that staff working in the enrolment centres in areas of high ethnic minorities should be bi-lingual. The Hindu female group also expressed concerns that information on the Register might be 'sold' to private companies. The Identity Cards Bill which is currently before Parliament includes no such provision.

National Offender Management Service

Gwyneth Dunwoody: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the first assessment of the effectiveness and value for money of regional offender managers is expected to be (a) made and (b) published.

Fiona Mactaggart: The effectiveness and value for money of the regional offender managers will be assessed against the target to deliver a five per cent. reduction in re-offending by adults and young offenders by 2007–08 compared to 2002–03, leading to a 10 per cent. reduction by the end of the decade. Statistics on reducing re-offending are published annually by the Home Office and report progress against the target on reducing re-offending.

Prisons

Neil Gerrard: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what changes in cost reductions he expects will be realised as a result of the performance test of the prisons on the Isle of Sheppey.

Fiona Mactaggart: The performance test at Sheppey was designed to encourage better quality and value for money in the supervision and care of offenders on the Isle of Sheppey. In its proposals, the Prison Service identified approximately £2 million of cost savings which will be reinvested to deliver improved quality. Hence, the proposals are cost neutral, but will deliver enhanced outcomes.

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  how many responses to the consultation paper "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending" were received from individual members of (a) probation staff, (b) probation services and (c) probation boards; and how many were supportive of the proposal;.
	(2)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the Magistrates' Association to the paper "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(3)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the Police Federation to the paper "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(4)  if he will place in the Library the response he has received from the members of the judiciary to the paper "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending";
	(5)  how many responses were received to the consultation paper, "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending"; and how many of these responses were supportive of the Government's position.

Fiona Mactaggart: Around 750 responses to the consultation paper have been received from a range of individuals and organisations. These are being analysed at the moment. We will publish a summary of them, along with our response to the key issues raised, within three months of the closing date for the consultation (20 December 2005).

Probation Service

Edward Garnier: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department 
	(1)  whether the introduction of the proposals to restructure the probation service has been (a) cancelled and (b) postponed;
	(2)  when legislation will be introduced to give him the power to commission probation services;
	(3)  what plans he has for the future of probation boards.

Fiona Mactaggart: Proposals for the restructuring of the probation service were set out in the Home Office consultation paper, "Restructuring Probation to Reduce Re-offending", published on 20 October. Legislation will be introduced when parliamentary time allows.

Reoffending

Henry Bellingham: To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what proportion of offenders (a) released early from prison and (b) who had completed their sentences re-offended within two years in each of the last five years; and if he will make a statement.

Fiona Mactaggart: Data on the two year re-offending rate by proportion of sentence served is not collated centrally.
	However, information on offenders recalled while under Home Detention Curfew and on those offenders recalled to custody following release on parole are published annually. The latest data are shown in Chapter 10 of Offender Management Caseload Statistics, a copy of which is placed in the Library.

Benefits

Danny Alexander: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions if he will summarise the responses to the Housing Green Paper, "Quality and Choice: a decent Home for All" relating to proposed simplification of the Housing Benefit Non-Dependent Deduction regime.

James Plaskitt: There were 495 respondents to the Housing Green Paper—"Quality & Choice; A decent Home for All" in April 2000, 103 of whom supported simplification or reform of non-dependent deductions. Five respondents disagreed with simplification.
	The Government's Paper "The Way Forward for Housing", published in December 2000, stated that the Government did not intend to pursue further reform of non-dependent deductions. However, the Government have taken the opportunity to make changes to the scheme.
	From October 2003, if the householder or their partner is aged 65 or more, and a non-dependant moves into their home, or an existing non-dependant's circumstances change to increase the deduction, then the start of the deduction or increase in deduction is delayed for 26 weeks. From April 2005, if the non-dependant is on pension credit, no deduction is made in respect of that non-dependant.
	At present, there are no plans to simplify the provisions further for non-dependants in housing benefit, but they will remain under review.

Benefits

Meg Hillier: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what assessment he has made of the impact of widening the housing benefit extended payment scheme from April 2004 to include those in receipt of incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: Data on housing benefit extended payments for incapacity benefit and severe disablement allowance claimants is not currently available.
	Such data is estimated using the previous four quarters' returns. May 2005 is the first quarter that sufficient data was available to be analysed. That analysis is on-going; we expect figures to be available later this year.

Benefits

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions what estimate he has made of the number of people entitled to but not claiming (a) housing benefit and (b) council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98; what the annual cost saving was from this unclaimed benefit; and if he will make a statement.

James Plaskitt: The estimated number of people entitled to but not claiming housing benefit and council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98 is in the table.
	
		The estimated number of people entitled to but not claiming Housing benefit and council tax benefit each year since 1997–98
		
			 Thousand 
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1997–98 110:470 1,200:1,660 
			 1998–99 130:430 1,250:1,750 
			 1999–2000 200:530 1,280:1,860 
			 2000–01 240:580 1,450:2,000 
			 2001–02 390:680 1,760:2,340 
			 2002–03 420:700 1,870:2,440 
		
	
	Forecasts of spending on benefits are based on estimates of those who will actually receive the benefit, not those who are entitled. This is in accordance with Government Accounting rules that require forecasts to be taut and realistic. Forecasts are generally based on trends in administrative data on people actually in receipt of benefits. This normally means take-up of benefits is implicitly assumed to remain at around current levels, although the anticipated impact of initiatives to increase take up will also be included. Forecasts do not make an explicit assumption about take-up.
	Consequently, there is no saving, relative to spending plans, from take-up of benefits being lower than 100 per cent. If take-up of benefits was higher than is implicit in the forecasts, spending would be higher than planned.
	However, the department does publish estimates of the amount of benefit unclaimed in each year, The estimated amount of benefit unclaimed for housing benefit and council tax benefit in each year since 1997–98 is in the table.
	
		
			   £ million 
			  Housing benefit Council tax benefit 
		
		
			 1997–98 140:700 400:600 
			 1998–99 170:630 440:650 
			 1999–2000 290:840 460:710 
			 2000–01 360:960 590:860 
			 2001–02 630:1,230 760:1,060 
			 2002–03 760:1,400 880:1,200 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. The figures are sourced from the Family Resources Survey.
	2. The latest estimates of the number of entitled non-recipients, range. unclaimed, and take-up relate to 2002–03, and can be found in the DWP report entitled "Income Related Benefits Estimates of Take-Up in 2002–2003". Copies of the publication are available in the Library.
	3. Estimates for 2003–04 will be published in early 2006.
	4. Estimates are presented as ranges within which it can be assumed the true number lies. These ranges account for possible biases inherent in estimates from data that is less than perfect.
	5. Comparing estimates over time is not straightforward. Our estimates allow for biases, which can change from year to year; but we cannot be sure of the extent or effects of changes. Therefore, any analysis of changes over time should be made with caution.

Lone Parents (Employment)

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions 
	(1)  whether the definition of employment used in measuring progress towards the target to help 70 per cent. of lone parents into employment by 2010 includes (a) full-time and (b) part-time employment; and if he will make a statement;
	(2)  what progress has been made to date towards meeting the target of helping 70 per cent. of lone parents into employment by 2010.

Margaret Hodge: The Government have set itself the ambitious target of increasing the employment rate of lone parents to 70 per cent. by 2010. The target is measured using the labour force survey and the International Labour Organisation (ILO) definition of employment which includes both full and part-time employment.
	Helping lone parents return to the labour market is the most effective way of ensuring their social inclusion and is the best route out of poverty for them and their children. Additionally, the increase in sustainable employment that results from this movement into work increases the productive potential of the economy.
	We have already made significant progress in achieving this target. There are now over one million lone parents in work, 318,000 more than in 1997; the lone parent employment rate has increased by 11 percentage points since 1997, currently standing at 56.6 per cent. and the number of lone parents claiming income support has fallen by around a quarter since 1997.

Ministerial Visits

Paul Goodman: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many visits abroad Ministers in his Department have made in relation to policy on child care for working parents since 2001.

Margaret Hodge: Since 1999, the Government have published annually information relating to Cabinet Ministers' visits overseas costing more than £500. Copies of the published lists for the years 2001 to 31 March 2005 are available in the Libraries of the House. The detailed information you have requested in respect of other Ministers is not collected centrally and to collect it would involve incurring disproportionate cost.
	Ministerial travel is conducted in accordance with the Ministerial Code and Travel by Ministers.

New Deal

David Laws: To ask the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions how many and what proportion of (a) men and (b) women, aged (i) 50 to 54, (ii) 55 to 59 and (iii) 60 to 64 years have taken part in (A) new deal 50-plus on a voluntary basis and (B) new deal 25-plus on a compulsory basis; and which options they took.

Margaret Hodge: New deal 25-plus is a mandatory programme designed to help long term unemployed people back into work. It is aimed at people aged 25 and over who have been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 18 out of the last 21 months. This includes those aged 50 and over who have not previously participated in new deal 25-plus.
	Unemployed or economically inactive people aged 50 or over and who have been claiming benefits for 6 months or more can also volunteer to join the new deal 50-plus.
	The available information is in the tables.
	
		New deal 50-plus
		
			  Male Female 
			 Age group Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 50 to 54 20,320 56 16,090 44 
			 55 to 59 14,350 69 6,800 31 
			 60 to 64 2,520 97 90 3 
		
	
	Notes:
	1. Information on participants on new deal 50-plus is only available from January 2004.
	2. Figures are cumulative to August 2005.
	3. Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	Information Directorate, DWP
	
		New deal 25-plus
		
			  Male Female 
			  Number Percentage Number Percentage 
		
		
			 People aged 50 to 54 
			 Compulsory starts 49,590 77 14,560 23 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 20,600 74 7,060 26 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 540 79 140 21 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 550 76 180 24 
			 Self-employment 450 82 100 18 
			 Education/training opportunity 130 78 40 22 
			 Work experience/placement 770 79 200 21 
			 Intensive activity Period training 830 76 260 24 
			 Other 30 71 10 29 
			  
			 People aged 55 to 60 
			 Compulsory starts 44,260 76 13,920 24 
			  
			 Of which started 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 18,150 73 6,880 27 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 390 75 130 25 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 340 76 110 24 
			 Self-employment 300 85 50 15 
			 Education/training opportunity 80 82 20 18 
			 Work experience/placement 460 77 140 23 
			 Intensive activity period training 450 80 110 20 
			 Other 30 76 10 24 
			  
			 People aged 60 to 64 
			 Compulsory starts 2,650 97 90 3 
			  
			 Of which started 
			 The enhanced new deal 25-plus programme 1,520 98 30 2 
			  
			 Of which started: 
			 Employment option 10 100 0 0 
			 Basic educational training/basic skills 0 100 0 0 
			 Self-employment 10 100 0 0 
			 Education/training opportunity 0 — 0 — 
			 Work experience/placement 10 100 0 0 
			 Intensive activity period training 20 100 0 0 
			 Other 0 — 0 — 
		
	
	Notes:
	Consists of people who, when starting the programme, had been claiming jobseeker's allowance for 18 out of the previous 21 months, and who had not previously participated on new deal 25-plus whilst aged 50 and over.
	Information on participants on the options stage of new deal 25-plus is available only for participants of the post-April 2001 enhanced programme.
	Participation on the options stage of new deal 25-plus is voluntary for people aged 50 and over, unless they live in an area which is piloting mandatory participation in this stage for people aged 50 and over.
	Starts to options relate to a person's first start to an option during an individual spell on new deal. A person may start more than one option during an individual spell on new deal 25-plus.
	Figures are cumulative to August 2005.
	Figures are rounded to the nearest 10, and percentages are calculated on unrounded figures.
	Source:
	Information Directorate DWP

Africa (Debt Repayments)

Ann McKechin: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what the net flow of resources between the United Kingdom and Africa was when the bilateral debt repayments from all African countries to the United Kingdom are subtracted from the United Kingdom aid budget to Africa excluding debt cancellation for (a) the 2005 calendar year and (b) financial year 2004–05; and what the expected figure is for 2005–06.

Ivan Lewis: In fiscal year 2004–05 the UK's bilateral assistance to Africa amounted to £970 million. The UK also gave very considerable sums of money via multilateral agencies, however this data is not disaggregated to show how much went to Africa. The estimated figure for the UK's bilateral assistance to Africa for fiscal year 2005–06 is £1 billion.
	During fiscal year 2004–05, the UK received official bilateral debt payments from countries in Africa amounting to approximately £152.8 million. The UK also wrote off almost £351.6 million of African official bilateral debt in 2004–05. During fiscal year 2005–06, the UK expects to receive official bilateral debt payments from countries in Africa amounting to approximately £1,112.5 million. The UK expects to write off almost £1,143.3 million of African official bilateral debt in 2005–06.

Benzodiazepines

John Grogan: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer how many deaths in which benzodiazepines abuse was given as a (a) cause and (b) factor occurred in each of the last 10 years.

John Healey: The information requested falls within the responsibility of the National Statistician who has been asked to reply.
	Letter from Colin Mowl, dated 1 February 2006
	The National Statistician has been asked to reply to your recent question asking how many deaths in which benzodiazepines' abuse was given as a (a) cause and (b) factor occurred in each of the last 10 years. I am replying in her absence. (47324)
	Abuse of benzodiazepines is not separately identified as a cause of death using the International Classification of Diseases. The attached table shows the number of deaths where benzodiazepines were mentioned on the death certificate and the underlying cause was drug poisoning, for the ten years 1994 to 2003, the most recent year for which figures are available. These figures are produced from a special database which contains deaths where the underlying cause was drug poisoning. Figures readily available from death certification relate to deaths due to drug poisoning, not the total number that were attributable to drug use.
	
		Number of deaths from drug-related poisoning(18) where benzodiazepines were mentioned on the death certificate, England and Wales, 1994–2003(19)
		
			 Calendar year Number of deaths 
		
		
			 1994 279 
			 1995 253 
			 1996 230 
			 1997 248 
			 1998 245 
			 1999 240 
			 2000 207 
			 2001 222 
			 2002 242 
			 2003 211 
		
	
	(18) Cause of death was defined using the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision (ICD-10) codes F11-F16, F18-F19, X40-X44, X60-X64, X85 and Y10-Y14.
	(19) Data are for deaths occurring in each calendar year.
	Source:
	Table 2 of the annual report: " Deaths related to drug poisoning: England and Wales, 1999–2003 ", published in Health Statistics Quarterly 25 in February 2005.

Economic Activity (Milton Keynes)

Mark Lancaster: To ask the Chancellor of the Exchequer what steps he is taking to increase the rate of economic activity in Milton Keynes.

John Healey: The Government have put in place policies that will raise the trend rate of growth for all English regions and local areas, including Milton Keynes. For instance, as one of the Government's four housing growth areas, Milton Keynes is benefiting from significant new investment in infrastructure and through further regeneration of brownfield sites.
	GVA statistics show that between 1989, when comparable regional records began, to 2004, the South East enjoyed the highest increase in economic growth per head of all the English regions. It is also experiencing historically low unemployment levels. Unemployment has fallen in the region by 38,000 (17.7 per cent.) since 1997.

Ambulance Services

Gregory Barker: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what her plans are for the regionalisation of ambulance services in Bexhill and Battle; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: "Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England: Consultation Document" sets out the proposed new ambulance trusts on which we are currently consulting. This includes the proposal for a new trust, referred to in the document as South East A, which would cover the areas covered by the current Sussex, Kent and Surrey ambulance trusts, if the proposals are agreed. However, no decision has been made, or will be, until consultation has been concluded.
	A copy of "Configuration of NHS Ambulance Trusts in England: Consultation Document" is available in the Library. I also refer the hon. Member to the ministerial statement on this consultation I made on 14 December 2005, Official Report, columns 151–53WS.

Aspartame

Lynne Featherstone: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what regulations her Department has issued in relation to aspartame; and if she will make a statement.

Caroline Flint: The Sweeteners in Food Regulations 1995, as amended, implement European Union legislation (Directive 94/35/EC) on sweeteners, including aspartame, which are permitted to be used in food.

Child Obesity

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national target she has set for halting the rise in obesity of children under 11 years in each year to 2010.

Caroline Flint: A public service agreement target specifically on obesity has been set in July 2004 "halting the year-on-year rise in obesity among children aged under 11 by 2010 in the context of a broader strategy to tackle obesity in the population as a whole". No year-on-year targets up to 2010 have been set.

Homeopathy

Ian Gibson: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what guidelines she has issued on the use of homeopathy.

Caroline Flint: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has produced some clinical guidelines that included reference to complementary and alternative therapies alongside more conventional approaches. NICE'S current assessment of smoking cessation interventions will also include consideration of complementary therapies, and departmental officials will discuss with NICE how the clinical guidelines work programme could, where appropriate, include complementary therapies.
	The Government also commissioned the Foundation for Integrated Health to produce 'Complementary Healthcare: a guide for patients', published in January 2005, which includes information on homeopathy.

Hospital Services

Andrew Dismore: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what percentage of patients were (a) treated at and (b) admitted to (i) Barnet and (ii) Chase Farm hospitals with the 98 percent.-within-four hours target as of (A) 31 December 2004 and (B) 31 December 2005; and if she will make a statement.

Jane Kennedy: The data requested is not collected in the format requested.
	The total time and wait for admission data for Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust for the quarters ending in the periods requested are shown in the table. The four hour target applies to the total time spent in accident and emergency (A and E)—this is the time from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. There is no separate target for admissions.
	
		A and E activity and performance, Barnet and Chase Farm Hospitals NHS Trust, October to December (Q3) 2004–05 and 2005–06
		
			  2004–05 2005–06 
		
		
			 Percentage of patients who spent less than four hours in A and E 87.1 94.9 
			 Percentage of patients placed in bed in a ward within four hours of a decision to admit 90.3 91.9 
		
	
	Source:
	Department of Health dataset QMAE for 2004–05 data and Department of Health dataset SitReps for 2005–06 data (Quarter three).

Maternity Services

Rosie Cooper: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  how many midwives (a) as a headcount and (b) as full-time equivalents have been employed by Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust in each of the last five years;
	(2)  what the midwifery vacancy rate for Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust has been in each of the last five years.

Liam Byrne: The information requested is shown in the table.
	
		Health and social care information centre vacancies survey, NHS three month qualified midwife vacancies for Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust, three month vacancy rates, numbers and staff in post
		
			  3 month vacancy rate (percentage) 3 month vacancy (number) Staff in post (full-time equivalent) Staff in post (headcount) 
		
		
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2000 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 1999 — — 88 109 
			 March 2001 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2000 — — 103 150 
			  
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2002 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2001 — — 94 127 
			 March 2003 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2002 — — 90 113 
			  
			 Southport and Ormskirk Hospital NHS Trust RVY 
			 March 2004 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2003 — — 93 116 
			 March 2005 0.0 0 — — 
			 September 2004 — — 93 116 
		
	
	Notes:
	Three month vacancy notes:
	1. Three month vacancy information is as at 31 March each specified year.
	2. Three month vacancies are vacancies which trusts are actively trying to fill, which had lasted for three months or more (full-time equivalents).
	3. Three month vacancy rates are three month vacancies expressed as a percentage of three month vacancies plus staff in post.
	4. Three month vacancy rates are calculated using staff in post from the Non-Medical Workforce Census September each specified year.
	5. Percentages are rounded to one decimal place.
	Staff in post notes:
	1 Staff in post data is from the non-medical workforce census September each specified year
	General notes:
	1. Vacancy and staff in post numbers are rounded to the nearest whole number.
	2. Calculating the vacancy rates using the above data may not equal the actual vacancy rates.
	3. Due to rounding, totals may not equal the sum of component parts.
	Source:
	Health and social care information centre vacancies survey
	Health and social care information centre non-medical workforce census.

Private Finance Initiative Schemes

John Hemming: To ask the Secretary of State for Health 
	(1)  what sign offs are required before a guarantee can be provided by her Department for private finance initiative schemes for NHS foundation trusts;
	(2)  how much has been guaranteed by her Department for the University Hospital Birmingham NHS Trust private finance initiative scheme;
	(3)  what the current status is of the proposed University Hospital Birmingham private finance initiative rebuild; and if she will make a statement.

Liam Byrne: The trust's full business case (FBC) has been submitted to the Department for approval; the trust is currently clarifying a number of points which have been raised by the Department. Subject to approval by the Department, the FBC will be forwarded to HM Treasury for approval by officials and Ministers.
	In common with other foundation trust private finance initiative (PFI) schemes with a capital value in excess of £0 million, the Secretary of State for Health, the PFI consortium and its funders will sign a deed of safeguard prior to financial close. The effect of the deed of safeguard is to make the Secretary of State liable should the trust be unable to meet its payments to the operator of the PFI scheme.

Smoking

Michael Wills: To ask the Secretary of State for Health what national targets she has set for reducing the percentage of pregnant women who smoke.

Caroline Flint: The 1998 White Paper, "Smoking Kills", sets a specific national target for smoking during pregnancy, "to reduce the percentage of women who smoke during pregnancy from 23 percent. to 15 percent. by the year 2010; with a fall to 18 percent. by the year 2005". The latest data used to monitor this target comes from the infant feeding survey, which takes place every five years. The results for 2000 show that, in England, 19 percent., of pregnant women smoked. Results for 2005 are due in 2007.

Smoking

Greg Hands: To ask the Secretary of State for Health how much smoking-related illnesses have cost the NHS in each of the last five years.

Caroline Flint: The information is not available in the form requested.
	The latest data on the cost to the national health service of treating illness and disease caused by smoking is estimated to cost between £1.4 to £1.7 billion every year in terms of general practitioner visits, prescriptions, treatment and operations.